Federal authorities uncovered a large-scale identity theft operation involving illegal immigrants during a workplace raid at a meatpacking plant in Omaha, Nebraska, as reported by Fox News.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the scheme affected over 100 American citizens whose personal information was used by undocumented workers to gain employment, wages, and benefits fraudulently.
On June 10, ICE, working with federal and state partners, executed a workplace enforcement action at Glenn Valley Foods, a meat processing facility located in Omaha.
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The operation resulted in the arrest of more than 70 illegal immigrants who were allegedly using stolen Social Security numbers and other personal information to work at the plant unlawfully.
An ICE spokesperson confirmed that many of those arrested may have used organized criminal networks to facilitate the identity theft, and that the investigation remains ongoing. The total number of victims is still being determined.
“The criminals who stole these identities didn’t just break the law, they upended lives,” said Mark Zito, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City, which oversees Omaha.
“These so-called honest workers have caused an immeasurable amount of financial and emotional hardship for innocent Americans. If pretending to be someone you aren’t in order to steal their lives isn’t blatant, criminal dishonesty, I don’t know what is.”
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ICE provided several examples of the victims affected:
In Texas, a disabled individual was unable to access Social Security disability payments due to an illegal immigrant fraudulently earning wages under their name.
In Colorado, a resident received a notice from the IRS demanding repayment of more than $5,000 because false income was reported under their Social Security number.
In Missouri, a full-time nursing student lost access to tuition assistance after income was inaccurately attributed to them due to identity theft.
In California, one victim spent nearly 15 years trying to reclaim their identity and resolve the financial damage caused by a fraudulent worker at Glenn Valley Foods.
Despite national protests and some public criticism of the enforcement action, ICE defended the operation, stating that the individuals arrested were not simply “honest, hardworking members of society,” but were actively engaged in serious criminal activity with long-term consequences for their victims.
“These victims aren’t faceless statistics; they’re real people who are being denied healthcare and have lost educational opportunities,” said Zito.
ICE says further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
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